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 stye is defined as a red, swollen bulge at the eyelid edge originated by an infection of glands. There are no statistics that indicate a predilection for race, age or sex for styes.

Clinical manifestation
The stye usually appears as a small and isolated red bean, located on the eyelid, which when pressed causes pain. It is often
accompanied by discharge, discomfort and tearing. The symptoms are important since the lesion usually associates an allergic-type reaction with inflammation throughout the eye.
In adults, the most common reaction is usually a small nodule with or without a drainage hole and it is also characterized by pain and swelling. Other possible symptoms are tearing and photophobia (discomfort or pain to the eyes due to light exposure). Sometimes the intensity of the discomfort suggests the presence of a foreign body in the eye.

Types of stye

• External or superficial styes: When the drainage orifice is aimed towards the external part of the eyelid, they usually develop in the Zeiss or Moll glands.

• Internal, deep styes: If the orifice is produced in the inside of the eye; they occur in the Meibomian gland.

Risk factors

•  Systemic factors: dyslipidemia (abnormal amount of lipids), diabetes, ocular congestion (flu, extreme tiredness).
•  Eye causes: chronic blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, refractive errors, misuse of contact lenses, allergy.
•  Skin diseases: seborrhea, acne rosacea, allergy.
•  Exaggerated solar exposure.

Treatment
The basis of all treatment is the heat that causes the orifice to open and drain spontaneously. The procedure is extremely simple and has no collateral complications. Ideally, place a wet compress as hot as the patient can tolerate for 5 to 10 minutes, two or three times a day. More than 50% of the lesions resolve spontaneously.
Some experts recommend the application of topical antibiotics to prevent secondary conjunctivitis or infection for the healthy eye. Others limit its use to cases in which inflammation has spread beyond the tissues adjacent to the stye.
In the event that the stye does not drain within three weeks, local anti-inflammatories are indicated.

During the infectious episode
-Hygiene measures: wash your hands before touching the eyes, and clean with gauze or clean towels exclusively for this problem.
-Do not use cosmetics such as eyelash mascara or eyeliner, nor share them with other people.

Prevention
-Eliminate local and general causes.
-Cleaning the eyelid and the eyelash area with baby shampoo.

Complications of stye

• Recurrence.
• Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).
•  Preseptal cellulitis: extension of the inflammation to the cheeks with general symptoms (fever). The treatment consists of systemic antibiotics for 10 to 14 days.